The centre of the capital is evolving not only with futuristic office buildings. The hearts of Warsaw residents are being conquered by successive revitalisations of complexes rich in historical fabric. Among them, the “monument buildings” of Polish Modernism deserve special attention. They captivate with their simplicity and functionality, although they were not completely devoid of detail. One outstanding example of this is the sculpture of an eagle and an inscription adorning the building of the former Telecommunications Office at 45 Nowogrodzka Street in Warsaw.
How much does modernism, with its maxim “less is more”, inspire builders of the capital today? Does art déco detailing, combining high quality material with simplicity of form, match the style of the present day? Together with historian and varsavianist Adrian Sobieszczański, we will search for answers to these questions, looking at the “telegraph building” – an icon of Polish modernism, which is about to receive a second life.
Adrian Sobieszczański:
Located at 45 b. Nowogrodzka St. Telecommunications Office is one of the greatest achievements of Polish architecture of the interwar period. The modern, constructivist building, whose façade was enlivened by a unique decoration in the form of the national emblem and the inscription “INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, RADJOTELEGRAPH”, emphasised the importance that during the Second Republic attached to telecommunications. Communicating, sending and receiving information was one of the cornerstones of the young state’s efficient operation. A visible sign of these aspirations became the edifice, which by its form, but also by its unique decoration and the materials used, expressed the ambitions and aspirations of the young, modern state.
Designed between 1928 and 1933, the modern Telecommunications Office building was not only oneof the largest public buildings in Warsaw, but was also one of the most structurally complex buildings in the capital at the time. At its core was its purpose, as – in addition to intercity telephones, the telegraph or post office – it was to house a school of telecommunications, a museum of post and telecommunications, social facilities for 1,300 employees and the Technical Department of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs. Thanks to the use of varied volumes, the building has an unusually high expressive power.
The art déco eagle, or the detail of the avant-garde
In the interwar period, modernist buildings sought new means of expressing aesthetic solutions. Modernism, whose origins lay in the views of expressed in the words “less is more”, was a reaction to 19th century architecture overloaded with decoration. Modernist architecture was to be purged of detail in its earlier sense while appreciating the purity of the massing. The detail did not disappear completely, but only changed its character. Its function was taken over by, among other things, structural elements or the materials used.
Such an approach was used in the spectacular project at 45 Nowogrodzka St. Above the main entrance to the building there is a decorative inscription made in metal: TELEPHONE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CITY – RADIOTELEGRAPH and a rectangular panel with a stylised eagle in the spirit of art déco. Both the eagle and the inscription are separated by cornices. The grey silhouette of the eagle, standing out against the red sandstone, is formed by vertical and horizontal lines, semicircles and triangles. The eagle, processed in keeping with the spirit of the age, has fitted in sensationally with the architecture of the modern building.

In pre-war Poland, placing images of the eagle on the facades of state buildings was a visible part of the enthusiasm flowing from regained independence. The emblem on the facade of the Telecommunications Office was created by Jan Goliński. The eagle is reminiscent of one of the most original depictions of the national emblem created in 1925 by Stanisław Szukalski. Interestingly, the author of the eagle – architect and sculptor Jan Golinski – was one of the initiators of the SARP.
Red sandstone and terrazzo
The covering of the facade of the Telecommunications Office building with red sandstone and light coloured noble terazzite plaster had an amazing effect. The stone cladding used on the facades of public buildings gave plasticity to even simple and flat airs. The natural stone also emphasised the character of the building. The tower section on the Poznańska Street side, with a height of 42 m, was covered with vertical mouldings, which avoided the impression of monotony.
The red sandstone was contrasted with noble plasterwork. Prominent among the materials used at the time were the noble Terrazite mortars, which allowed for a striking colour with a crystalline structure. The Terrazyt company offered nearly 500 varieties of plaster in numerous colours.

Among the luxurious yet durable finishing materials used in the interiors of the Nowogrodzka building was grey terrazzo with sequences of black stripes. This type of floor finish began a dizzying career in the 1920s.
Terrazzo is one of the oldest finishing materials. Seemingly simple in its creation, involving the mixing together of cement, dye and grit (marble, granite, basalt or porphyry), it created strong and durable surfaces that were susceptible to grinding and polishing, resulting in the lustre of natural stone. In the 1920s and 1930s, terrazzo in pink, black, green, brown and yellow were used in addition to grey terrazzo. Terrazzo floors provided an aesthetically pleasing and durable finish that not only complemented the interior, but was often the dominant design element.
The art of simplicity
The simple forms used in the “telegraph building”, modern technological solutions and functionality coming to the fore, were the hallmark of the public utility buildings of the interwar years. Looking at the most famous buildings of this type in today’s Warsaw, it is hard to resist the impression that history has come full circle. Just as in the past, attention turns to what is new, pioneering, unorthodox and original. The modernist style, associated with smooth surfaces, uncomplicated shapes and lightness, seems to harmonise with the universal human desire for harmony and peace. Today, thanks to the revitalisation of successive historical buildings, Warsaw has the opportunity to develop in a modern yet sustainable and valuable way, displaying the artistry and legacy of the past.
ZEITGEIST Asset Management is responsible for the revitalisation of the historic building at 45 Nowogrodzka Street in Warsaw.
text: Adrian Sobieszczański
source: ZEITGEIST Asset Management
contemporary photos in colour: ZEITGEIST Asset Management’s own material
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